The Age of Accountability
There is a teaching that is the prevalent today in many denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention, Calvary Chapel, Assemblies of God and many nondenominational churches that teaches that babies and small children below a certain area will automatically go to Heaven no questions asked. This teaching is better know as the “Age of Accountability.”
While the use of this teaching is nice and reassuring to those that have lost little love ones and while we must have compassion for their lost we also must deal with what the bible actually teaches on this subject. So what does the bible actually say about the “Age of Accountability?” Actually the bible says noting on this statement directly. Nevertheless, children are still under the Fall of Adam just as their parents are and everyone else, so they are subject to same consequences as everyone else. Romans 5:12 says the following;
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
Also in we see in Psalm 51:5 David says the following;
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."
From these verses we can see that we are all born under the curse of the fall and none of can escape the curse brought forth by our first parents, Adam and Eve. Therefore we are all sentenced to hell for our sins unless we have Jesus Christ as our savior.
One may be asking at this point than where is the hope for those who are to young to understand what faith is and what belief is since the atoning work of Christ is received by faith. God has provide us an answer for this question. In Psalm 22:9 if is made clear that babies may indeed have the ability to have belief.
"Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts."
So, though children from the conception are under the Fall of Adam, God is able to make them believe and trust in him even while in the womb or at a young age. Having the knowledge of this should be a reassurance for those that have lost loved ones at a younger age.
We must also remember another very important point. God knows His elect and knows His sheep regardless of a persons age whether a baby, young child or an adult. God knows who He has called and elected for salvation. So in that very fact no matter what age a person dies if that person is indeed one of God's elect, choose by God, (John 6:44, Acts 13:48, Phip 1:29, Eph 4:5) than he or she is saved regardless of that persons age at the time of death.
While the “Age of Accountability” is not a biblical doctrine and should be avoided as being taught as one by pastors and their churches. We do see that God in His perfect Sovereignty has made a provision for His children. That provision made in His Word is much more comforting and reassuring than the man made unbiblical doctrine of the “Age of Accountability.”
While the use of this teaching is nice and reassuring to those that have lost little love ones and while we must have compassion for their lost we also must deal with what the bible actually teaches on this subject. So what does the bible actually say about the “Age of Accountability?” Actually the bible says noting on this statement directly. Nevertheless, children are still under the Fall of Adam just as their parents are and everyone else, so they are subject to same consequences as everyone else. Romans 5:12 says the following;
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
Also in we see in Psalm 51:5 David says the following;
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."
From these verses we can see that we are all born under the curse of the fall and none of can escape the curse brought forth by our first parents, Adam and Eve. Therefore we are all sentenced to hell for our sins unless we have Jesus Christ as our savior.
One may be asking at this point than where is the hope for those who are to young to understand what faith is and what belief is since the atoning work of Christ is received by faith. God has provide us an answer for this question. In Psalm 22:9 if is made clear that babies may indeed have the ability to have belief.
"Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts."
So, though children from the conception are under the Fall of Adam, God is able to make them believe and trust in him even while in the womb or at a young age. Having the knowledge of this should be a reassurance for those that have lost loved ones at a younger age.
We must also remember another very important point. God knows His elect and knows His sheep regardless of a persons age whether a baby, young child or an adult. God knows who He has called and elected for salvation. So in that very fact no matter what age a person dies if that person is indeed one of God's elect, choose by God, (John 6:44, Acts 13:48, Phip 1:29, Eph 4:5) than he or she is saved regardless of that persons age at the time of death.
While the “Age of Accountability” is not a biblical doctrine and should be avoided as being taught as one by pastors and their churches. We do see that God in His perfect Sovereignty has made a provision for His children. That provision made in His Word is much more comforting and reassuring than the man made unbiblical doctrine of the “Age of Accountability.”
